[The author, Lon Martin, uses Yehovah when he refers to the Eternal (יהוה) and the name Yeshua when he refers to the Messiah. YHWH is also used to refer to יהוה]
Does the book of Hebrews—directed to a Jewish audience—use “encoded language” to tie the “preliminary principles about the Messiah” directly to Israel’s seven annual Feast Days? This chapter makes the case, using a familiar apostolic text, that the Feast Days actually epitomize Yeshua’s {Jesus’} ultimate objectives, with a primary emphasis on the Last Day—the Eighth Day!
Hebrews Chapter 6 begins by mentioning the “preliminary principles about the Messiah”. It also mentions that they are directed toward those who have been “immersed” (baptized), (your Greek based versions substitute “enlightened”), and it mentions “the gift from Heaven” and “wonderful Words of God. This is definitely not concerning fringe areas! These topics are “the foundation” of the Assembly of Aloha (God)—the trunk of the tree. The seven principles listed in Hebrews 6 happen to form a thumbnail sketch of the ultimate meaning of the Feast Days, as they relate to the eternity of humanity, and they are all in consecutive order! Yet since it is only a sketch, only one salvational aspect of each day is addressed.
If the following quotation sounds like a sketch of the Biblical Days then don’t bother with reading this chapter. However, since I’ve been reading about the Biblical Days since 1967, and have never come across this concept, let’s consider these seven fundamental principles, one at a time, with the Biblical Days in mind
(Unless stated otherwise, the verses used throughout this article are from The Gabriel Bible [TGB])
Hebrews 6:1-2 [The Gabriel Bible] 1 So let’s go beyond the preliminary Word of the Messiah and move toward spiritual perfection. You don’t need to ‘begin again’ turning away from spiritually dead works and faith in YHVH, 2 the doctrine of immersion {baptism}, and the laying on of hand/s, and the resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment.
These two verses, matter of fact and in passing, cover the entire plan of redemption, as pictured by the Biblical Days! Let’s look at them one at a time:
[1] PASSOVER [PESACH] evening and the First Day of Unleavened Bread represents our “MOVE TOWARD SPIRITUAL PERFECTION”. This is the very reason for the Passover. Yeshua was the perfect sacrificial Lamb. We are to examine ourselves by comparing ourselves to the perfect standard—Yeshua the Messiah:
Hebrews 5:8-9 [TGB] 8 Even tho He was the Son, He still learned to be obedient by the fear and sufferings He endured. 9 So once He was perfected, He became the source of our eternal Life for everyone who obeys Him.
Matthew 5:48 [TGB] 48 So become perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
We certainly can’t be perfect in this life, but we can in the next!
Every year at the Passover we should consider the following words that Yeshua spoke immediately before He died for us:
John 17:23 23 I am in them and You are in Me. May they be perfected into one so that the world will know that You sent Me and that You loved them just as You loved Me.
The process of becoming perfect will not be completed until we are “ONE” with Yeshua. (John 17:21) This is comparable to when “The first man Adam became a living being”, but his imperfection necessitated a restoration of life.
1 Corinthians 15:45 … The second Adam (Yehshua) became a Spirit who restores Life.
Hebrews 11:39-40
39 None of these honorable witnesses received the promised blessings,
40 since So become perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect. YHWH had determined that it is better that they not be made perfect and complete beings without [ahead of] us.
All of the Biblical Days foreshadow “the good things to come”—in the future, they picture seven prophetic events. These good things to come are about a perfect plan.
Hebrews 10:1
1 The Torah, being a foreshadowing of the blessings to come, isn’t an exact likeness of the things themselves. So, although the same ze’bakim* [sacrifices] are offered every year, they can never perfect those who offer them
(*Zebak / Zebakim (plural) is usually translated as “sacrifice/s”, but since the word sacrifice, like so many other “theological” terms is derived from the names of pagan gods and goddesses (in this case a sun god named Sancus), I use the Hebrew word zebak in my writings, using phonetic spelling.)
Hebrews 9:11 11 But the Messiah who came was a High Priest of the good things to come, and He entered the greater and perfect tabernacle that wasn’t made by human hands and wasn’t part of this creation.
Elohim (God) wants for us to be spiritual perfectionists!
[2] THE SEVENTH DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD corresponds to when we “TURN AWAY FROM SPIRITUALLY DEAD WORKS”. Prior to the Days of Unleavened Bread we removed the leaven, symbolic of sin or “spiritually dead works”, from every dusty corner of our lives. At the Passover we made a binding commitment with Elohim [God] to strive for perfection. As we progress thru the next seven days we are on the lookout for overlooked leaven lurking in our lives. This pictures our personal Exodus away from the dead works of spiritual Egypt, as we march toward the Promised Land. We make good on our immersion commitments. During these seven special days of the year, we make an even greater effort to overcome sin. Symbolically, by the close of this period that represents our lives, we will literally be born into the spirit realm—if we remain faithful, continually turning from dead works.
Hebrews 9:14-15 14 then how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who thru the eternal spirit offered Himself without blemish to YHWH, cleanse our consciousness from dead works so that we can serve the living Aloha? 15 This is why He became the Mediator of the New Covenant—so that by His death He could become the ransom payment for those who had sinned under the first covenant, so that those who are called to the eternal inheritance can receive the promise.
The phrase “spiritually dead works” is similar to what is expressed by James:
James 2:20-22 20 Don’t you realize, you spiritually destitute person, that faith without works is dead! 21 Wasn’t Abraham our ancestor proven righteous by works in offering his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith enabled his works, and as a result of works, his faith was PERFECTED.
When you “Amend your ways” it results in “faith”, and that leads to “immersion”.
Acts 2:38 38 Simon said, “Every one of you should amend your ways and be immersed in the name of the Master Yeshua for the exoneration of sins, and you will receive the gift of the kadosh {Holy} Spirit,
Striving for perfection is the message of Unleavened Bread.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 6 Your bragging isn’t good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out your old leaven so that you can be a new batch of dough, as you are unleavened. The Messiah, our Passover, was offered in our place. 8 So let’s celebrate the Feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and bitterness, but with the unleavened bread of purity and dedication.
On a much larger scale, turning from spiritually dead works is what Elohim is going to cause the twelve Israelite nations to do just before they enter the New Promised Land during the Second Exodus. Elohim will make a New Covenant with His people. Any rebels who are unwilling to change (repent) will be purged out.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, the following passage is prophetic. It specifically says that it will be a time not unlike when Elohim brought Israel out of Egypt, thousands of years ago. Elohim will plead with Americans, Brits, Aussies, Canadians etc. in a wilderness area of the kadosh (holy) Land! Notice:
Ezekiel 20:34-38 34 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people [Isaiah 1; Hosea 2:14], and I’ll judge you there face to face, 36 just like when I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, that’s how I’ll judge you, says the Sovereign Yehovah . 37 I’ll make you pass under the shepherd’s rod, and I’ll bind you in a [ Kimchi] [New] Covenant, 38 and I’ll purge out the rebels from among you, and those who disobey Me. I’ll bring them out of the land where they were living, but they won’t enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll know that I am Yehovah.
The significance of the seven days is also associated with the seven millennial days in a perfect plan.
[3] PENTECOST corresponds to “Faith in Yehovah”: Receiving the kadosh spirit is what the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, is remembered for. But there is much more to the story!
Acts 2:1-6 1 When the days leading up to Pentecost [Ar. Pen-ikaos-ia] were fully counted, while they were all assembled together, 2 a sudden sound came from the sky, similar to a violent wind. Aloha’s entire House where they were sitting was filled with it. 3 Then what looked like separate flaming tongues of fire appeared to them, and a flame rested on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the kadosh spirit and began speaking in various languages as the spirit enabled them to speak. 5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem who revered YHVH, from every nation under the sky. 6 When they heard the noise, many people gathered around in amazement because everyone heard speaking in their own language.
Question: What was the difference between the Jews who were “filled with the kadosh spirit” and those who“revered Yehovah”, but who were in bewilderment?
Answer: It was their “faith in Yehovah”. Some of these Jews mockingly said, “They have been drinking new wine, and are intoxicated”. But Peter assured them that it was only the third hour of the day and, unlike today, people patiently waited until the evening to get drunk. I believe that when Peter and John later healed the lame man on the ninth hour of the day, it was the same day.
Acts 3:16 16 By FAITH in His name, He has strengthened and healed this man who you see and know, and faith in Him has given the man this perfect health, as you can plainly see.
Our faith should lead us to perfect spiritual soundness! The survivors of the Great Tribulation against Israel will have learned to have faith in Elohim. You know what they say about foxholes. As was the case in ancient Israel, when the people enter the New Promised Land they will become “Yehovah’s people”. Pentecost, for these early Believers was still about entering the coming “resurrected” Promised Land—and it still is! Had ancient Israel gone directly to the Promised land, as originally planned, without the 40 year layover, they should have arrived on Pentecost, since they left the Sinai wilderness “On the twentieth day of the second month” (Numbers 10:11-13), and it is about “eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadeshbarnea”(Deuteronomy 1:2).
The second entry into the Promised Land will be much like the first one, minus the 40 years:
The second entry into the Promised Land will be much like the first one, minus the 40 years:
Deuteronomy 27:2-3, 9 2 On the day when you cross the Jordan River ‘and enter’ the land that Yehovah your Elohim is giving you, you will set up some large stones, and cover them with plaster, 3 and write all the words of the Torah on them, after you’ve crossed over, so that you can enter the land that Yehovah your Elohim is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yehovah, the Elohim of your ancestors, has promised you. 9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be quiet and listen, Israel. You have now become the people of Yehovah your Elohim!
[4] THE DAY OF TRUMPETS represents “Immersion” (baptism) and resurrection. Here’s how. Immersion specifically symbolizes the death and resurrection of the kadishea (saints). When you are dunked you are being symbolically buried, as well as washing away sins, but when you are lifted up, that symbolizes your own resurrection. Immersion begins the chain of events, that, including the laying on of hands, will prepare you for your life long journey, leading directly to the fulfilment of The Day of Trumpets! “The resurrection of life” will enable us to be present for “The Great and Awesome Day of Yehovah” described by Joel that will follow almost immediately. This resurrection is exclusively for kadishea (saints).
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 51 See, I’ll explain a mystery to you, we won’t all die, but we’ll all be transformed! 52 In the smallest possible fraction of a second [Gr. atomos], while the last [seventh] shofar is sounding, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be transformed! 53 This perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality.
Now let’s back up to verses 35-37, 42-44:
1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-44 35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? And what kind of body will they return with?” 36 Foolish man! The seed you sow won’t germinate unless it dies first 37 What you sow isn’t the body that will be, but a naked seed of wheat or barley or another grain. ... 42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, but what is raised will never decay. 43 They are sown in dishonor, they rise in brightness, they are sown in weakness, they’ll rise in power, 44 it is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a physical body and there is a spiritual body.
At immersion, a spiritual body becomes our future hope!
[5] THE DAY OF ATONEMENTS corresponds to “Laying on of hands”. There are only a few references to the laying on of hands in Bible. The Day of Atonements is one prominent instance. The lightly concealed symbolism of Leviticus 16 depicts an astounding event:
Leviticus 16:21 21 Aaron will lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the sins of the descendant’s of Israel, and all their rebellious behaviour—everything they did wrong; and he’ll put them on the head of the goat, and send him away into the wilderness, handled by a man who’s waiting.
Satan has nothing to do with the atonement of sin!
Yeshua is the symbolic goat here as well. Both goats and lambs served this purpose. Goats are often symbolic of evil. For a time, our Saviour was burdened with all of the evil of humanity, past present and perhaps into the future! His blood was shed for us. The goat that was ze’baked [sacrificed] represents Yeshua’s death, but the live goat represents the living Messiah!
On what day of the year was Yeshua immersed?
All three accounts have Yeshua being “led” out into the wilderness immediately after being immersed, and naturally having John’s hands laid on him.
Yeshua was immersed on the Day of Atonements immediately before being banished into the wilderness!
Yeshua is the symbolic goat here as well. Both goats and lambs served this purpose. Goats are often symbolic of evil. For a time, our Saviour was burdened with all of the evil of humanity, past present and perhaps into the future! His blood was shed for us. The goat that was ze’baked [sacrificed] represents Yeshua’s death, but the live goat represents the living Messiah!
On what day of the year was Yeshua immersed?
All three accounts have Yeshua being “led” out into the wilderness immediately after being immersed, and naturally having John’s hands laid on him.
Yeshua was immersed on the Day of Atonements immediately before being banished into the wilderness!
Leviticus 16:5,7,15 5 He must take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. ... 7 Then he must take the two goats and present them before Yehovah at the door of the Congregational Tent. ... 15 Then he will slaughter the goat as a sin offering for the people, and bring his blood inside the veil, and do with his blood what he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and in front of the mercy seat.
The living Yeshua is the Atonement for our iniquities!
1 John 2:2 2 He is the atoning ze’bak [sacrifice] for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the entire world.
Acts 3:26 26 You were the first people that Yehovah has sent His Son to bless. But you must amend your wicked ways”.
Yeshua died as an atonement for our sins—yet He lives. But leave Satan out of this.
The Day of Atonements alludes to reconciliation with Yehovah for those who are still alive at the end of the age. It’s about both “iniquities” and “mercy”!
Leviticus 16:15-16 15 Then he will slaughter the goat as a sin offering for the people, and bring his blood inside the veil, and do with his blood what he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle¹ it on the mercy seat, and in front of the mercy seat.16 He must make atonement for the Kadosh Place, because of the impurities of the Israelites, and because of their rebellion, all their sins. He’ll do for the Congregational Tent, that is among them amid their impurities. ¹ Each of us is responsible for a sprinkling of Yeshua’s shed blood.
When John the Immerser saw Yeshua, he said:
John 1:29 29 ... “Look, the Lamb of Yehovah, who takes away the sins of the world!
Today, Yeshua is pictured as a perfect Lamb.
There is a lot more to the comparison between Leviticus 16 and the dialog that that was begun in Hebrews 6. This chapter in Hebrews ends making reference to “behind the veil”. Notice:
Hebrews 6:19 19 It’s like an anchor that holds our consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche] firmly in place, a hope that enters the Kadosh [Holy] Place behind the veil
Chapter 7 continues the comparison of the old covenant and the new one, with the emphasis on Melchizedek, (who became Yeshua). There is a connection between the Day of Atonements, with the Azazel goat being set free, and the zebak goat—our Passover that was killed for us. The bottom line is this:
Hebrews 7:26-27 26 This is the kind of Priest we need to stand before us, one pure, innocent and unstained, one separated from wickedness, and elevated higher than Heaven, 27 One who doesn’t need to offer daily ze’bakim [sacrifices] like the [Aaronic] high priests, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He only did this once, when He offered Himself up.
There is, of course, more recent instruction about the laying on of hands. The power of the kadosh spirit can be so dramatic that even an anti Messiah can become jealous:
Acts 8:18-19 18 When Simon saw that the kadosh spirit was given when the envoys laid a hand on someone, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me this ability so that whoever I lay my hand on will receive the kadosh spirit.”
The laying on of hands is the next step following our acceptance of the Lamb of Elohim who takes away our sins, preparatory to our future resurrection!
On a national level, the Day of Atonements is “a memorial” to the day when Israel makes atonement for thousands of years of rebellion!
Exodus 30:16 16 You must take the atonement silver from the people of Israel, and use it for the service of the Congregational Tent, so that it will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before Yehovah, to make atonement for yourselves.
Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4:1 both mention that Yeshua was “led” into the wilderness.
SearchGodsWord describes the word ‘led’, used by Matthew and Luke, as being primarily in reference to an animal:
“to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: of an animal”
However Mark is even more plain:
Mark 1:12 12 Immediately the spirit banished Him into the wilderness* [*] This is the actual enactment of the Azazel goat—the Lamb of Aloha [God], being banished into the wilderness on the Day of Atonements.
The First Day of FEAST OF TABERNACLES is represented in Hebrews 6 by the phrase “The resurrection of the dead”. But remember that on Trumpets we had immersion which is obviously symbolic of not only burial, but far more importantly RESURRECTION! So why is there a specific mention of Resurrection as point number 6? The answer is that there is more than one resurrection! There is to be a resurrection of the kadishea [saints] prior to this, notice:
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 15 We declare this to you by the Word of Aloha’s own authority, that we who survive and are alive when our Master comes will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep [into the Kingdom]. 16 Our Master will ‘personally’ come down from Heaven with a mandate, and with a voice like the chief Messenger and with YHVH’s shofar, and the dead who ‘belong to’ the Messiah will rise first! 17 Then, we who are still alive, having survived, will be carried away together with them into the clouds to meet our Master in the expanse. And we will be with our Master forever.
Here is another reference to this event:
Revelation 20:6 6 Blessed and kadosh is anyone who has part in this first [or best] resurrection, over them the second death has no influence, but they’ll be priests of YHVH and of His Messiah, and they’ll reign with them during the thousand years.
(So of logical necessity there is at least one more resurrection to follow. That is the topic of the Last Day.)
The ignorant people of the world will be awakened to the knowledge of Elohim as the millennium begins during the Feast of Tabernacles! For many, it will be a rude awakening:
Zechariah 14:16-19 16 Then everyone who is left behind [survives] from all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yehovah the ‘Warrior’ King, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 When that time comes, if any of the clans of the earth won’t come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yehovah the ‘Warrior’ King, they’ll get no rain. 18 If the people of Egypt don’t show up, they won’t get any rain. This is the plague that Yehovah will strike the nations with that don’t go up and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of any other nation that doesn’t go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
The righteous will soon have an amazing “Tabernacle”—the New Jerusalem, right here with us, putting the “TABERNACLE” in “THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES!” The seven days also represent the entire seven millennia plan. At the establishment of the Everlasting Kingdom, people will be resurrected from the dead to become immortal Sons of Elohim. Spirit born people from every past generation will be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, and as will be explained in the commentary about the “Last Day”, will be enjoying the New Jerusalem together—right away!
But on an annual scale, rather than a millennial scale, it represents the final seven years of Daniel 9, just prior to an eighth year:
Isaiah 34:8 8 “Because Yehovah has a Day of Vengeance, a year of payback settling the dispute over Zion.”
The marriage of Israel to Elohim, some of the first good news in a very long time, is like in the ancient legends. The Hero, riding on a white horse, shows up at the last minute to save the King’s daughter from the dragon—killing it with a sword (Isaiah 27:1), then he marries the bride.
Isaiah 62:4 4 You’ll never again be called “Forsaken”, nor will your land be called “Desolate” again, instead, you’ll be called “Hephzibah” [Literally, “My delight is in her”], and your land “Beulah” [Literally, to marry], because Yehovah delights in you, and your land will be married to Him.
Our backsliding Israelite brethren from all twelve tribes will be singled out and spared!
Jeremiah 3:14 14 Return, backsliding children, says Yehovah; because I am your husband; and I will take one of you from a this city, and two from that family, and I will bring you to Zion.
[7] THE LAST DAY of the Feast of Tabernacles and the EIGHTH DAY share one common element: “Eternal judgment”! The resurrection on the Last Day takes care of the dead, but what about the survivors of the “time of trouble” who have just had an attitude adjustment, during a very thirsty “FAST of Tabernacles” (no rain)? Actually, there is plenty of time for coming generations of humanity to be redeemed or condemned! While the Seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles is not another Feast Day, it has much significance.
The most obvious meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles is often overlooked. It marks the Exodus!
Leviticus 23:42-43 42 You must live in booths for seven days. Every native born Israelite must live in booths 43 so that coming generations will know that I had the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I’m Yehovah your Elohim.”
Be looking for a Second Exodus
Then ironically, the Eighth Day is the seventh Feast Day; count them in Leviticus 23. The Eighth Day is in reality the seventh day of the first “millennial week”, ending the week, not beginning a new one!
The survivors of the Great Tribulation and the Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”) have an opportunity for repentance, actually “they, and their children, and their grandchildren forever” (Ezekiel 37:25), and this is associated with “the Eighth Day”. This annual commemoration will be well understood during the Everlasting Kingdom. For those who have survived this long, the final “warning shot fired across the bow” was made by the threat of starvation; remember: no rain, no food.
Eternal Judgment is the very purpose of these two back-to-back days. Yeshua will separate the “sheep from the goats” immediately upon His return. That account is a synopsis of all of the parables preceding Matthew 25:31, but it is not a parable itself. Even though terms “sheep” and “goats” are used, and that sounds rather parabolic, this is a quite literal event. The “goat like people”, the stubborn, will be like stubble in a fire.
Matthew 25:31-34,41,46 31 When the Human Son comes in His splendour, and all His spirit messengers with Him, He’ll sit on the throne of His splendor. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of Him, and He’ll separate them from each other, just like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He’ll put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ... 41 Then He’ll say to those on His left, ‘Go back to your journey away from Me. You are doomed to the everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels. ... 46 They’ll go away for an eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal Life.’”
Yeshua’s remarks about the meaning of the Last Day of the Feast are all found in the book of John. As you read His comments about this time, preferably in context, you will see that the Last Day is all about the resurrection that precedes the first year of the Everlasting Kingdom (not just a millennial kingdom), pictured by the Eighth Day.
These Last Day references are for us:
John 6:39-40, 44, 54; 7:37; 11:24; 12:48 39 And the will of the One who sent Me is that I won’t lose any of those He has given Me, but should raise them up during the Last Day. 40 Because My Father wants everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him to have eternal Life, and I’ll raise them up on the Last Day”... 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them. Then I’ll raise them from the dead on the Last Day... 54 but anyone who eats My body and drinks My blood has eternal Life, and I’ll raise them from the dead on the Last Day...
John 7:37
37 On the Last Day of the Feast—the Great Day—Yeshua stood and spoke out, “If anyone is thirsty they should come to Me and drink...
John 11:2424 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, on the Last Day”
This Last Day reference also concerns the wicked:
John 12:48 48 Those who reject Me and don’t accept My teaching have something to judge them—the teachings that I have spoken will judge them on the Last Day
Yeshua’s comments in John on the Last Day of that particular year are virtually all we have to determine what the Last Day commemorates!
The mention of a First resurrection definitely implies at least another resurrection. Our goal is to be resurrected from the dead, and participate in Elohim’s (God’s) family plan. But most of the kadishea (saints) won’t be fortunate enough to be living when Yeshua returns. There is a “first [or better] resurrection” for the kadishea, but the Last Day is about a resurrection to judgment, whether good or bad, for everyone else. Technically, there are two resurrections at that time. I believe that these next two are only twenty-two days after the First Resurrection—on the Last Day! The book of Daniel clearly specifies a Judgment where both the righteous and the wicked are resurrected in the time frame of the single greatest “time of trouble” “since there was a nation up until that same time”. He was told that this is “the time of the end”.
Daniel 12:1-4 1 AT THAT TIME, Michael will take a stand, the great leader who stands for your ‘countrymen’, and there will be a time of trouble [the great Tribulation], such as there has never been since the first nation up until that time, AND AT THAT TIME [during the “time of the end!”] your people will be rescued, everyone whose names are still found {niphal} recorded in the Book [of Life]. 2 Multitudes of people sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some of them to everlasting life, and the others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. 4 But Daniel, keep this message a secret, and put a seal on the book until the time of the end. Many will travel around quickly, and knowledge will greatly increase[Hebrew shoot!]
Daniel further described the Last Day—Judgment Day, in chapter 7. In Daniel’s vision he saw: The Ancient of Days (Yehovah) on His throne, one hundred million witnesses, the books being opened, the Beast being destroyed, One who appeared to be the Son of Man coming in the clouds, and an Everlasting Kingdom (not a one-thousand-year-long kingdom) being established, “that that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:9-14 9 I watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair on His head was like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, and its wheels were like blazing fire. 10 A river of fire flowed out from before Him. Millions served Him, and one hundred million stood before Him. The court ‘convened’, and the books were opened. 11 I kept watching due to the boastful voice that the horn spoke with, I watched until the wild beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and ‘thrown’ into a blazing fire. 12 As for the other wild beasts, their sovereignty was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a period of time. 13 In my vision that night I saw Someone like a Human Son, coming with the clouds of the sky, and as He was approaching the Ancient of Days, they escorted Him into His presence. 14 He was given dominion, and splendour, and a Kingdom, so that people of every nation and language would serve Him. His Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom that won’t pass away, and His Kingdom is one what will never be destroyed.
This resurrection where the relatively righteous, and the wicked are judged simultaneously, during “the time of the end”, is referred to in Revelation as the White Throne Judgment; and no it’s not after the thousand years, as you just read in two places in Daniel; and the Revelation account adds even more information:
Revelation 20:11-14 11 Then I saw a ‘large’ white throne, and the One who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled for safety, and their location [or place] wasn’t found. 12 I saw the dead, those of lower status [small] and the highly esteemed[great] standing in front of the throne, and the small books were opened , including the small Book of Life. The dead were judged by the things that were written in the small books, based on what they had done [their ‘works’]. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. Everyone was judged based on what they had done [their ‘works’]. 14 Death and Sheol [Ar/Heb meaning grave] were thrown into the lake of fire. The second death is the lake of fire.
John also described the White Throne Judgment as a day when two resurrections take place:
John 5:25-29 25 I tell you with absolute certainty that the time is coming, and now is [at the time of this writing], when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of YHVH, and those who hear it will live. 26 The Father has Life in Himself, so He has also enabled the Son to have Life in Himself, in the same way. 27 More importantly, He has also given Him the authority to judge everyone, because He is the Human Son. 28 Don’t be amazed at this, because the time is coming when everyone in their graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things to the Resurrection resulting in Life, and those who have committed evil to the Resurrection resulting in Condemnation.
During the second and third resurrections the sheep and the goats are separated, but as the account states, both groups are clueless as to why they are being rewarded, or punished! These are not the kadishea who were already resurrected.
We read that on Judgment Day, even the wicked will be brought back to life for one day. It says that “the dead will hear” and that “ALL who are in their graves will hear”. The wicked “goats” will not be disembodied spirits, they will be combustible humans! (Malachi 4:1-3)
The sheep of this general resurrection, the White Throne Judgment, will enter the Everlasting Kingdom, and they enter on the Last Day. While the goats experience everlasting condemnation (death).
What about “Death and Sheol” being “thrown into the lake of fire”, as mentioned above? Would that mean, as so many teach, that there could be no more humans after that point in time, and that all of the human race had become immortal beings by then, living in New Jerusalem?
In Revelation 20, we read about “Death and Sheol” [the grave] being eliminated. Wouldn’t that essentially be what happens when absolutely no one is dead—ALL of the dead have been either raised to Life or turned into ashes—when the slate is clear? No one is dead, no one is in Sheol?
Aside from the comments specifically mentioning that the Adversary (Satan) will be bound for a thousand years, and the havoc that he will stir up then, sort of a footnote; the entire book of Revelation is a chronological account of the time of the end, but most of Christianity believes that once the Adversary is bound for the thousand years, in chapter 20:1, that the Judgment Day of that same chapter and the entirety of the last two chapters of Revelation, chapters 21 and 22, are describing events that we’ll have to wait a thousand years to experience. In reality we win right away!
Let’s look at Revelation 21 and see if the wicked are finished springing up among us, and see if indeed humanity itself is gone, or if 1000 years has passed. In fact we’ll see that we are just past the end of this age with humans still occupying the earth and even visiting New Jerusalem (the fiancee or bride—the regathered Israel) on the New Earth, made ready (about to be) married. People continue to opt to become wicked, and are even loitering outside of New Jerusalem, destined for the lake of fire (still there), that consumed the Beast and the false prophet, “the lake that burns with fire and sulfur”. We see that strictly within the city there are no more tears. Yehovah is living here with humanity, and humans are being offered “living water” for the first time, with no mention of a thousand year postponement!
Revelation 21:1-8 1 I saw a new heaven and a New Earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had gone[1], and there was no more sea[2] . 2 I saw the kadosh city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from YHVH, like a bride adorned for her husband [for the Marriage of the Lamb]. 3 I heard a loud voice from the sky say, “Look, YHVH’s tabernacle [dwelling place] is among humanity [Gr. anthropos]. He will live with them and they’ll be His people, and YHVH will be with them, yes YHVH Himself will be with them.” 4 Every tear will be wiped from their eyes, and there will be no more death [3] or mourning or crying or pain, nor will the previous painful state exist anymore, because the previous evil things have gone away. 5 The One who was seated on the throne said, “Look, I’m making everything new”. And He said, “Write this down, because these are the faithful and true words of YHVH.” 6 Then He said to me, “I’m the Aleph and the Tau, the Beginning and the End. I’ll allow anyone who is thirsty to drink freely from the spring of living water. 7 Anyone who is victorious will inherit these things. I’ll be their Aloha and they’ll be My sons. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the sinful, the unclean, murderers, male prostitutes, sorcerers , idolaters and all liars ‘are destined for’ the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
[1] This is the equivalent of the new earth that appeared after YHVH sent a great flood “to destroy the earth” in Genesis 9:11.
[2] This has to be figurative, because the seas are well represented in the Everlasting Kingdom: Psalm 72:7-9;Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 24:14-15; Isaiah 60:5; Jeremiah 31:35-36; Ezekiel 26:5 and 47:10,15; Habakkuk 2:14;Zephaniah 2:6-7; and Zechariah 14:8. Unfortunately many people believe that the New Heavens and New Earth don’t even arrive until after the thousand years! (See the time frame in Isaiah chapters 65 & 66 .)
[3] The cessation of tears and death begins as soon as the Everlasting Kingdom is established! Check the entire context of Isaiah 25, particularly verse 8. Yet the wicked are excluded from this blessing. 1 Corinthians 15:23-24 says, “but everyone in their order, Messiah was the firstfruit. Later, at His coming, those who are the Messiah’s [will be restored to life]. 24 Then the end of these events comes, when He’ll have handed over the Kingdom to YHVH the Father, when every ruler and every government and every powerful force will have been overthrown”.
Many assume that there is a 1,000 year gap between verse 23 and verse 24, assuming that it will take Yeshua 1,000 years to conquer the world. Have they read any prophecies? Zechariah 14 is a detailed account of the conquest of the world, it’s called the Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”). The earth will be “under His feet”, beginning at the Mount of Olives. Ezekiel 38 and 39 is another specific account of the conquest. Some postpone these chapters too. Consequently they must, for example, also think that it will take 1,000 years for Him to “make My kadosh name known in the midst of My people Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7) as well.
Malachi was describing the Last Day; the fates of the righteous and the wicked, but without necessarily specifying the dead.
Malachi 4:1-3 1 “Look, THE DAY is coming, it burns like a furnace; and ALL of the proud, and everyone who behaves wicked, will be stubble; and THE DAY that comes will burn them up”, says Yehovah, leader of His army. “They will be left without a root or branch. 2 But for those of you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves leaving a stall. 3 You will trample down the wicked; because they will be ASHES under the soles of your feet on THE DAY when this is done”, says Yehovah of armies.
The context of this Judgment Day passage concerns the time when Elijah returns, and the Day of Yehovah (v.5)!
Coming Full Cycle
There is a connection between the Passover, that began our quest for eternal life, and the Last Day, that makes it a reality for so many.
John 6:4 4 The Passover Feast of the Jewish people was near.
It is quite probable that the statements of John 6 were made on the actual date of the Passover, Abib the 14th. Why waste a good Feast Day?
Here is the common factor concerning both the Passover and the Last Day.
John 6:35, 39-40 35 Yeshua told them, “I am the bread of Life. Anyone who comes to Me will never be hungry, and anyone who believes in Me will never be thirsty. ... 39 And the will of the One who sent Me is that I won’t lose any of those He has given Me, but should raise them up during the Last Day. 40 Because My Father wants everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him to have eternal Life, and I’ll raise them up on the Last Day.”
Why do you suppose that Elohim referred to the resurrection in the context of “the Last Day”? Throughout the entire Feast Day cycle we should be anticipating the end result—the LAST DAY, or culmination, of this evil age, in preparation for rulership starting on the first day, or perhaps the first Passover, of the seventh millennium! During the last three and one half years of this age, we will be preparing for rulership in the Everlasting Kingdom. We will have been resurrected on the Day of Trumpets of year 6000. Elohim has waited for this resurrection since before the foundation of the earth. Those of us who diligently sought Elohim, and found His favor, will serve as the leadership in the age to come—the age that begins when Yeshua says: “If anyone thirsts, they should come to Me and drink”. And “Out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water”.
THE EIGHTH DAY: Celebrating a thousand generations of humanity!
It seems a bit ironic, but The Eighth Day is the seventh Feast Day; count them in Leviticus 23. The Eighth Day is in reality the seventh day of the first “millennial week”, ending the week, not beginning a new one!
The Last Day ends the sixth millennial week, and we know that there will be a millennium of rest to follow, but could the seven thousand year plan only be the first week of a much longer plan?
We have seen the inception the first millennial week, but could the seven thousand year plan only be the first week of a much longer plan?
Elohim, on three occasions in Scripture, told of a One Thousand Generation Plan, all three of these Scriptural passages are confirmations of the covenant that Elohim swore in an oath to Abraham’s descendants! Are you certain that you want to opt for this to be figurative?
Deuteronomy 7:6-11
6 because you are a kadosh people to Yehovah your Elohim. Yehovah your Elohim has chosen you to be His personal possession out of all the nations on the face of the earth.
7 Yehovah didn’t set His affection on you or choose you because you were more numerous than any other nation, since you were the smallest of all nations.
8 Rather, it’s because Yehovah loves you, and is honoring the oath that He swore to your ancestors. That’s why Yehovah has brought you out with a strong hand, and redeemed you from slavery, from the grasp of King Pharaoh of Egypt.
9 So remember that Yehovah your Elohim is the onlyElohim, the faithful Elohim. He keeps His covenant with enduring love for a thousand generations, with those who love Him and obey His Commandments.
10 But He repays those who hate Him in person, destroying them. He won’t be slack with anyone who hates Him. He’ll personally repay them.
11 So you must obey the Commandments and the Statutes and the Ordinances that I give you today.
This one thousand generation covenant is integrally involved with the Words that He commanded, obeying these commandments and physical blessings.
1 Chronicles 16:12-18
12 Remember the marvelous things that He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has spoken,
13 You Israelites His servant, you descendants of Jacob, His chosen ones.
14 He is Yehovah our Elohim. His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever, the words that He commanded to a THOUSAND GENERATIONS,
16 the covenant that He made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it with Jacob as a statute, and to Israel as a never ending covenant,
18 saying, “I’ll give you the land of Canaan, the territory of your inheritance.”
Psalm 105:8-11
8 He remembers His covenant forever, the commitment that He made to a thousand generations,
9 the covenant that He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac,
10 and confirmed it to Jacob as a statute and to Israel as an everlasting covenant.
11 He said: “I’ll give the land of Canaan to you as the region of your inheritance.”
How long is a generation? Ironically or not, there are different “definitions” of “generation” possible in the Bible. It is not a fixed time. Here is one definition concerning the covenant with Abraham. This generation is on the high side.
Genesis 15:2, 5-6, 13, 16-21
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Yehovah, what will You give me since I still don’t have a son and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ...
5 Then Yehovah took him outside, and said, “Look up into the sky and count the stars, if you’re able to count them. Then He said to Abram, “‘That’s the number of’ your descendants.”
6 He believed in Yehovah, and He credited him as being righteous....
13 Then ‘Yehovah’ said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, and be oppressed as slaves for four hundred years. ...
16 Then in the fourth generation they’ll return here, since the wickedness of the Amorites hasn’t fully developed.
17 After sunset, when it was dark, a smoking oven appeared, and a blazing torch passed between these pieces.
18 On the same day Yehovah made a COVENANT with Abram and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River:
19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
To cram a “thousand generations” between Abraham’s time and the end of the seventh millennium would make a generation only about five years long! Perhaps there is a 120,000 year plan. Or was Elohim exaggerating about His covenant in His oath to Abraham?
Over the years the covenant has had some major setbacks, but that will change when the terms of the Jeremiah 31 New Covenant are implemented. Note that “everlasting” in the Hebrew means a very long time, if not eternity.
Genesis 17:1-9
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yehovah appeared to Abram, and told him, “I’m El the Almighty. Come into My presence and be blameless.
2 I’ll establish My covenant between Me and you, and increase your numbers greatly”.
3 Abram fell facedown, and Elohim told him,
4 As for Me, My covenant is with you! You’ll be the father of very many nations.
5 You’ll no longer be called Abram, but your name wil be Abraham because I’ve made you the father of very many nations.
6 I’ll make you exceedingly fruitful. Your descendants will establish many nations. Kings will be descended from you.
7 I’ll establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, thruout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be your Elohim and the Elohim of your descendants after you.
8 I’ll give you and your descendants after you the land where you are living, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I’ll be their Elohim.
9 Elohim said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to preserve My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
Abraham’s descendants were to number as the stars of heaven, that are beyond counting. That is the end result of a literal thousand generations. I believe that Elohim’s, statement: “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars”, was also not an exaggeration, but rather a clue revealing that these descendants will eventually colonize the heavens, due to the extreme limitations of the earth! While you may think this is preposterous; the numbers don’t lie!
Lon Martin, lonmartin@yahoo.com
This article can be found at everlastingkingdom.info
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